On the surface, Alexander VI was not like all other popes. For one, he had a bunch of children.

Oh, a number of popes shtupped on the side. But few, if any, officially acknowledged their children. Alexander did just that. One of his sons became a prince; another, a cardinal; another, a duke. And then there was Lucrezia, Alexander's daughter, the femme fatale of Renaissance Europe.

That would be Lucrezia Borgia, yes, of the Borgias, the medieval family known for their cunning, ruthlessness, intrigue, and murder. Lots and lots of murder. She learned a lot from her dad, who was at the forefront of it all.

Alexander was not just a Borgia; he was the cornerstone of the dynasty that made Europe tremble. And, as anyone in the position of power, they were subject to many rumors.

One rumor was that Lucrezia and Alexander were lovers (ewwwwwwww). Another was that the family was of Jewish origin.

We can't vouch for the first (ewwwwww), but we're pretty sure about the second. When you get down to it, Alexander VI was a lot like all other popes...